As I sit down to write this update tonight, the window next to me is open and I can feel the cool breeze of the night air laced with the sweet smell of freshly blooming buds on the trees. This has always been my favorite season of the year. What was dark, bitter, and dead is now blooming and springing back to life. Vibrant colors, sweet smells, warm sunshine, longer days, all welcome a new fresh promise of life and fill our souls with hope.
Hope.
It only comes from him.
It is only because of him.
And we still have hope despite the circumstances.
In the most recent update, we informed you that the first court date had been scheduled for January 13th and then a few weeks after that, the court date where we travel to get official custody would be scheduled. Long story short…we’re still waiting for that second court date. The appointment on the 13th went well, but since then, nothing. Here is what we have been told has been going on in Ethiopia: the political unrest put adoptions on the back burner, then the adoption law was revised, then the new law had to be translated, then they cleared out all of the staff at the government office that processes these cases, then the new staff had to be trained, then they were out at meetings, then the head of the office who signs off on the paperwork was out. Excuse after excuse. Finally last week we heard that one of our agency’s cases that was ahead of us by a few days for that first court date actually got their second court date. So, movement is happening…but we really do not know when it will be our turn. What again “should have” taken at most 4 weeks has turned into a 10 week (and counting) wait. No guarantees, nothing we can do to speed it up. People who have been through adoptions keep telling me it’s the worst 3rd trimester I’ll ever experience. They’re SO right.
Many of you have said to me “You are so patient, I have no idea how you have waited so long” or something along those lines..but I feel compelled to be honest with you. I AM NOT PATIENT. In fact, I looked up the definition of patience and failed BOTH definitions of the word.
1) the quality of being patient, as the bearing of provocation, annoyance, misfortune, or pain, without complaint, loss of temper, irritation, or the like. Yup..failed that one.
2) An ability or willingness to suppress restlessness or annoyance when confronted with delay. Mmm hmm DEFINITELY failed again.
I pretty much personify the opposite of the word most days with a nail biting, checking my email for updates every 30 minutes (ok..sometimes even more frequently), blowing my fuse (mostly in my poor husbands ear), and some serious tears when I talk to God about this whole thing, kind of impatience. Some days I don’t know what to do with the feelings I have. And that’s just where I am.
BUT..in the midst of my struggle, God has been keeping me occupied and has been revealing his presence and GOODNESS in my life in SO many ways.
As is to be expected in your third trimester, nesting set in full force! When January hit, we decided it was time to make room for our family to grow!
Now all three of our big girls will share a room! The only problem is that currently, both girls sleep in the bed we had planned for Hope to sleep in! It truly may not be a problem anyway because I’m sure they will be so excited to finally be together that they may want to snuggle in one bed anyway! (Then again, if they want/need separate spaces, its there!)
We also took full advantage of a few snow storms which allowed for Tom to stay home from work and ultimately turned into full blown SNOW DAYS with some of our dearest friends!
We were even able to squeeze in a quick ski trip!
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| Don't worry, she's laughing! |
After the nesting had subsided and the snow stopped falling, we began facing some family struggles. My granddaddy, who was SO very important to me and my family, was put on hospice care.
The very next day, my daddy had a heart attack (2nd one in 4 months) and was hospitalized. Before my father was released from the hospital, my grandfather passed away. This all took place over a one-week span.
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| KK cuddling with my Dad (DaeDae) |
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| Holding my Granddaddy's hand as I sang to him |
Through all of the chaos and crisis we were walking in daily, Jesus was there. Hope was there. My granddaddy lived 96 beautiful years and now is in the arms of his savior in Heaven.
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| Keeping his legacy alive with a tribute to him in song by 3 generations singing and playing the song he requested me to sing to him a few days prior, "Home on the Range" |
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| **Celebration of Life Photos by Nikolai Kolupaev |
My father is home recovering, miraculously surviving once again, and personifies the healing grace and power of our savior. Even though this period of our lives has been a struggle, Jesus has shown us, once again, the fresh promise of life and filled our souls with hope.
This is the perfect season to reflect on what Jesus did for us. For ALL of us. The sacrifice he made to come to this earth to walk among us; facing persecution, hatred, pain, rejection, and ultimately DEATH on the cross. The relentless love he must have for us to give up his LIFE…
for me.
for you.
He died for you. To bring you the hope of salvation, forgiveness from your sins, grace beyond measure, and a promise of new life in Him. Trust him, love him, follow him and he will take care of the rest.
“My hope is built on nothing less,
than Jesus blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame
But wholly trust in Jesus name.
Christ alone; cornerstone
Weak made strong; in the savior’s love
Through the storm, He is lord
Lord of all.” 